Florida mum accused of leaving son in woods to die

The mother accused of killing her two-year-old son in Largo, Florida, has been charged with first-degree murder and child abuse.

Charisse Stinson reported her son missing earlier this week and an Amber Alert was issued for Jordan Belliveau on Monday. The mother said she had been attacked and when she woke up, her little boy was gone.

Police believe it was all a lie and allege she assaulted him and left him to die in nearby woodlands.

"In interviewing the mother last night, she made significant admissions into what had happened to her child, which led us to have probable cause to arrest her in the death," Largo police Lt. Randall Chaney said Wednesday at a news conference.

Stinson said that during a moment of frustration she struck Jordan in the face with the back of her hand after he had suffered a serious injury to his right leg, according to an arrest affidavit.

Jordan with foster father Sam Warren who says the boy was failed by the system which returned him to his mum. (Supplied)

His head struck a wall and he suffered seizures during the night. As his health declined the next day, Stinson carried him to a wooded area and left him there, police said.

In court, Stinson was formally charged and a judge set a bond of $500,000 for a child abuse charge and no bond for the murder charge. She was appointed a public defender.

Stinson first told authorities she accepted a ride on Saturday night from a man named "Antwan," who then attacked her, knocked her unconscious and took her son. The man was described as about 25 years old, with dreadlocks and gold teeth.

Chaney said police don't believe an "Antwan" exists, and the white Toyota Camry he allegedly drove is fictitious as well.

"It was all fabricated by Ms. Stinson to help cover her alibi for what she'd actually done," Chaney said.

Stinson initially told police she was unconscious for a time in a park after being struck. But during interviews, police discovered she was at a wooded location nearby. Injuries Stinson said she received were self-inflicted, Chaney said.

Charisse Stinson claimed her son had been abducted. (Supplied)

The toddler's body was found uncovered in the wooded area on Tuesday afternoon, police said.

The Florida Department of Children and Families, confirmed it had had previous contact with the family.

Police told ABC News that Stinson and her son had been visited at home by a member of the Florida Department of Children and Families, which was investigating the family, just a few hours before the boy died.

Jordan had a foster family, where he stayed for more than a year from January 2017 to May 2018, before he was returned to his birth mother, ABC News reported.

Jordan Belliveau with foster mother Juliet Warren. (Supplied)

The boy’s foster parents, Sam and Juliet Warren spoke of their heartbreak over his death in press conference.

"We love Jordan deeply and are devastated by his loss," Mr Warren said.

"He wasn't just the boy in the Amber Alert. He learned to roll over in our house. I remember my mom helping him learn to crawl. Jordan learned to walk and talk in our family. He flourished and grew in a community that loved him deeply as well."

The Warrens said the foster system had led Jordan down.

"But for a court order he would still be safe in our home," he said. "Jordan was failed by the system. He was failed by many people who could have protected him but didn't. Promises that were made to us about how he would be protected after his return were broken."